The Identity of Gog and Magog - (Revelation 20:8-10)

Ezekiel received a vision of an invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations from the surrounding region. This force would be led by “Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” (Ezekiel 38:1-2). This force would be destroyed by God before it could annihilate the nation of Israel.

Commentators tend to identify the ancient nations listed in Ezekiel’s account with what they assume to be modern counterparts. Some of the names are not readily identifiable with known ancient kingdoms; for example, ‘Rosh,’ ‘Meshech,’ and ‘Gog.’ One expedient is to link such names to contemporary nations with what is perceived to be similarities in the spellings. “Rosh,” for example, is often equated with “Rus” or Russia.

Final Vision, Introduction - (Daniel 10:1-11:4)

The tenth chapter introduces the book’s final vision that Daniel received from one with “the appearance of a man” (Daniel 10:1-12:4).

This vision is connected by verbal links to the previous visions from chapters seven and eight, and particularly from the latter. It builds on the earlier vision of the ram and goat, the kingdoms of the “Medes and Persians” and Greece (8:1-14, 21-26; 11:1-4).

Daniel Chapter 7 in the New Testament

Daniel’s vision of a “Son of Man” figure who arrives to receive dominion occurs several times in the gospel accounts, often in descriptions of the return of Jesus (e.g., Matthew 13:41; 16:27-28; 24:30; 25:31; Luke 21:27).

For example, in Matthew 24:30-31 all the tribes of the earth mourn when “they see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

The Sixth Trumpet - (Revelation 9:13-21)

The sixth trumpet is also related to the sixth bowl of wrath; both begin with the release of creatures from beyond the Euphrates River and both end with the overthrow of Babylon (16:12-21).

(Revelation 9:13-16) – “And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel that had one trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men. And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.”

The Fifth Trumpet - (Revelation 8:13 - 9:12)

(Revelation 8:13) – “And I saw and heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound.”

The first four trumpets have sounded. Now three “woes” are proclaimed that correspond to the last three trumpets (9:12; 11:14). This is another example of John dividing a series of seven into two segments of four and three.

The Extent of the Beast's Reign

Some prophecy teachers contend the extent of the Antichrist’s reign will be geographically or politically limited. Some even suggest certain nations will opt out of his empire and resist his rule. Most commonly, the United States of America and the modern state of Israel are assumed to be exceptions to the otherwise global reign of the “Beast.”

This proposition conflicts with the book of Revelation and its usage of the term “all,” along with its cosmic scope and apocalyptic mindset that divides humanity into two groups:  those who follow the Lamb, and, those who render homage to the Beast. Revelation nowhere suggests any third category or neutral ground.